8 years sought for businessman Andi in e-ID case

Kharishar Kahfi

The Jakarta Post

Jakarta

Jakarta, posted: Thu, December 7, 2017 | 10:40 pm

Businessman Andi Agustinus (left), also known as Andi Narogong, is escorted from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters after being questioned about his alleged involvement in the e-ID graft case on April 4, 2017.(Antara/Wahyu Putro A)

Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have demanded that a court sentence businessman Andi Agustinus, also known as Andi Narogong, to eight years in prison for his alleged role in the e-ID graft case.

At a hearing in the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday night, prosecutors also demanded the bench order Andi to pay Rp 1 billion (US$70,000) in fines or serve an additional six months’ imprisonment.

“We concluded that there was close cooperation between the defendant and several other parties [in the graft scheme],” KPK prosecutor Nur Haris Arhadi said, while reading out the sentence demand.

Three individuals have been incriminated in the case, namely House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, who is expected to soon face trial, as well as former Home Ministry officials Irman and Sugiharto--both of whom have been convicted in the case.

Prosecutors also claimed that Andi had used Setya’s authority and influence to allow him to participate in the budget deliberation and procurement for the e-ID system, saying: “It could be concluded that the defendant conducted the foul play on behalf of Setya".

In March, Andi was named a suspect by KPK investigators for his alleged role in rigging both the deliberation of the e-ID project at the House and the bid at the Home Ministry. The case reportedly caused Rp 2.3 trillion in state losses. (ipa)